Word of the Day - 10/02/25
buttress
/'bətrɪs/(n.): a support usually of stone or brick; supports the wall of a building
The ancient cathedral's stone buttress provided essential support to its massive walls.
(v.): make stronger or defensible
The lawyer presented new evidence to buttress her client's claim of innocence.
(v.): reinforce with a buttress
To prevent collapse, the engineers decided to buttress the old bridge with additional steel supports.
Word Origin
The word 'buttress' originates from Old French, specifically from 'bouterez', meaning 'a prop' or 'a support'. This in turn comes from the verb 'bouter', which means 'to push' or 'to strike'. The architectural sense of a projecting support wall reflects this original meaning of pushing against or supporting something.
Words with a similar origin include 'butt' (as a verb, meaning to strike or push with the head), 'rebut' (to refute or push back an argument), and 'abut' (to touch or lean upon).